Embroidering-machine



June 27, 1967 R. REICH 3,327,661

EMBROIDERING-MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 27, 1967 R. REICH EMBROIDERING-MACHINE Filed NOV. 19. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,327,661 EMBROIDERING-MACHINE Rudolf Reich, 6 An der Ringstrasse, 545 Neuwied, Germany Filed Nov. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 412,365 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 27, 1963,

Claims. (Cl. i12- 95) The present invention relates to an embroidering-machine, and especially to an embroidering-machine in wh1ch a plurality of embroidering tool rows are arranged one above another.

In prior embroidering-machines a plurality of embroidering tool rows are arranged one above another, with each embroidering tool row being provided with a separate shuttle guide having a separate drive. The embroidering tool rows and their shuttle guides are customarily spaced so far from each other that in order to embroider a fabric web over its entire dimension transversely of the tool rows the fabric web must repeatedly be shifted relative to the tool rows which makes for a low production capacity of the machine. Moreover each shuttle guide requires a separate drive which complicates the machine and adds considerably to its cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide 1n an embroidering-machine of the character described each column of embroidering tool rows with a greater number of shuttle guides and to arrange them side-by-side and across all embroidering tool rows contained in the column. The usual other embroidering tools, such as needles, borers, driver bars, presser feet as well as thread guide brake mechanisms, may readily be arranged to adapt themselves to this novel multi-row shuttle guide arrangement. With this arrangement it is possible considerably to increase the production capacity of the embroidering-machine. Moreover flaws in the embroidered fabric will be considerably reduced even at increased production capacity of the machine. The multi-row shuttle guides are further adapted to extend across the whole width of the fabric so that the fabric can be completely embroidered without stepwise feeding of the same. In any event, large fabric areas can simultaneously be embroidered with this arrangement.

A further object of the invention is to provide the embroidering-machine with shuttle guides which extend inclined to the embroidering needle rows, with the embroidering tools of the successive rows of an embroidering column being disposed in laterally staggered or offset relation in accordance with the inclination of the shuttle guides. The successive embroidered rows in the fabric are thus laterally staggered which permits new varieties of patterns.

Another object of the invention is to provide the embroidering-machine with a single holder for all shuttle drivers for reciprocating all shuttles of an embroidering column on operation of this single holder.

The details of the invention will be more clearly apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the embroidering tools on a carriage;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the embroidering tools as seen from the embroidering needle side in FIG- URE 1.

The fabric web 1 is stretched upon a fabric frame (not shown) and is by known mechanism moved along the embroidering tools in accordance with the pattern to be embroidered. The embroidering tools consists of embroidering needles 2 reciprocated in a direction normal to the web of fabric 1 in conventional manner, presser feet 3, and the shuttles 4 serving in well known manner for locking the stitches formed by the threads. The embroidering needles 2 are arranged one above another in exemplary four horizontal rows 5 all but one of which show only one needle for simplicity, and they form an exemplary embroidering column. They are carried by holders which are attached to a carrier bar 6 that is reciprocated in a direction normal to the fabric. The various embroidering needle rows may also be attached to several carrier bars.

The shuttles 4 are received in guide ways 7 of preferred rectangular cross-section which are formed by bars 8 on a carrier bar 16. For forming the guide ways for the shuttles 4, guide plates 9 and 10 are fastened to the bars y8 on opposite sides thereof of which the plates 9 next to the fabric 1 form at the same time supports for the fabric 1. The bars 8 are provided with passages 11 which are open to the guide ways 7 and are adapted to receive the reciprocating embroidering needles, and are also provided with passages for receiving the borers (neither shown). The embroidering needles and borers are adapted to enter the respective passages in the bars 8 from the left side in FIGURE 1. The embroidering needles form the thread loops on their reverse or retracting motion. The shuttles 4, which are operated by slide pins 12 in the respective guideways 7, are adapted to pass through these loops with their thread locking the latter to form lock stitches. The shuttles 4 are in their guide ways 7 positioned below the passages 11 before they perform their operational up and down motion for forming lock stitches, and they are supported in this position by the slide pins 12. There are as many shuttles 4 provided in each guide way 7 as there are needles 2 along the latter throughout the needle rows 5.

The slide pins 12 are carried by holders 13 on a carrier bar 14. The carrier bar 14 is attached to an operating arm which imparts operational up and down motion to the carrier bar 14 and, hence, to the holders 13 and slide pins 12 thereon so that the shuttles 4, after forming of the needle thread loops, are moved upward and again downward for forming the lock stitches.

The guide ways 7 for the shuttles shown in FIGURE 2, the shuttles are in without any further provision.

In order to save space and also to provide a maximum number of embroidery pattern rows one above another, the guide ways 7 are preferably of such length that two or more successive shuttles can be provided therein and operated simultaneously. This makes it possible to use larger shuttles with larger thread spools or bobbins, so that a larger amount of thread is at hand and the bobbins need not be changed and the machine stopped very often.

Furthermore, it is also possible to provide guide ways on the opposite sides of the bars 8 so that two shuttles may perform along each bar 8. This saves still further space, and still larger shuttles with correspondingly larger bobbins can be applied. By making the bars 8 adjustable in their inclination (FIG. 2) it is also possible to produce asymmetric embroidery patterns.

By providing a plurality of embroidering tools one above another it is also possible to produce a multicolour ernbroidering pattern in a single embroidering operation. Each upward pattern strip can thus be embroidered with various embroidering tools containing thread of dilferent colours.

The embroidering-machine according to the invention is adapted to embroider fabric webs longitudinally as well as transversely. For embroidering a fabric web transversely it is merely necessary to elongate the embroidering tool rows according to the width of the fabric frame.

A web of fabric may preferably be embroidered in longitudinal direction with the embroidering-machine according to the invention. The more embroidering tool rows are applied one above another the more pattern rows can be embroidered simultaneously as a result of which the time 4 being inclined as also retained there- 3 required for the embroidery will be considerably reduced. Also, when several carrier bars are applied to Operate individual bars, the respective embroidering tools may produce only parts of the overall pattern, so that certain pattern strips may contain various patterns.

The adjacent upward pattern strips are preferably staggered.

There may also be provided several ernbroidering tool columns each with a plurality of embroidering tool rows for increasing the output of the embroidering-machine.

What I claim is:

1. In an embroidering machine, the combination of a carrier reciprocable in a direction normal to a fabric web to-be-embroidered; a plurality of needle bars on and reciprocable with said carrier, embroidering needles on and reciprocable with each of said needle bars, the needles on each of said needle bars being arranged in spaced columns in the same general direction, the needles of each column being in tandem stepped relation; shuttle guides extending transversely of said needle bars over the extent of the needle bars, with each shuttle guide being in line with a needle on each needle bar; shuttles in each guide being in number the same as the needles aligned with said guide; and means for reciprocating all shuttles in each guide simultaneously into and from operative relation With the respective needles aligned with said guide.

2. The combination in an embroidering machine as in,

claim 1, in which said shuttle guides extend at an inclination to said needle columns.

3. The combination in an embroidering machine as in claim 1, in which said shuttle guides provide rest surfaces A for a fabric web to-be-embroidered, and there are further provided presser feet and a carrier therefor reciprocable into and from a position in which said presser feet clamp a fabric Web to said rest surfaces.

4. The combination in an embroidering machine as in claim 1, in which successive shuttle guides are in line with successive needles in each column.

5. The combination in an embroidering machine as in claim 1, in Which said shuttle guides extend parallel to each other, and said shuttle reciprocating means comprise shuttle operating pins projecting in the respective shuttle guides and carried by holders along each shuttle guide, and a reciprocable bar carrying all of said holders.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,003,521 9/1911 Schoenfeld 112--95 1,055,893 3/1913 Eggart 112--83 1,084,904 1/ 1914 Schoenfeld 112--95 1,125,730 1/1915 Saurer 112-83 1,139,375 5/1915 Saurer 112-83 1,200,831 10/1916 Granz 112-95 3,039,411 6/1962 Genduso 112-95 FOREIGN PATENTS 229,587 1/1911 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examinez'.

FRANK I. COHEN, A. R. GUEST,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN AN EMBROIDERING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION OF A CARRIER RECIPROCABLE IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO A FABRIC WEB TO-BE-EMBROIDERED; A PLURALITY OF NEEDLE BARS ON AND RECIPROCABLE WITH SAID CARRIER, EMBROIDERING NEEDLES ON AND RECIPROCABLE WITH EACH OF SAID NEEDLE BARS, THE NEEDLES ON EACH OF SAID NEEDLE BARS BEING ARRANGED IN SPACED COLUMNS IN THE SAME GENERAL DIRECTION, THE NEEDLES OF EACH COLUMN BEING IN TANDEM STEPPED RELATION; SHUTTLE GUIDES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID NEEDLE BARS OVER THE EXTENT OF THE NEEDLE BARS, WITH EACH SHUTTLE GUIDE BEING IN LINE WITH A NEEDLE ON EACH NEEDLE BAR; SHUTTLE IN EACH GUIDE BEING IN NUMBER THE SAME AS THE NEEDLES ALIGNED WITH SAID GUIDE; AND MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING ALL SHUTTLES IN EACH GUIDE SIMULTANEOUSLY INTO AND FROM OPERATIVE RELATION WITH THE RESPECTIVE NEEDLES ALIGNED WITH SAID GUIDE. 